Rebates for home EV chargers in Canada (2022 update)
Are you looking to buy your first electric vehicle (EV)? Maybe you’re on the waitlist for the upcoming EVs on the market? Or, perhaps you already have your EV and are now ready to equip yourself with a home EV charger?
For many potential—or new—EV owners, one of the most confusing aspects of making the switch to a zero emission vehicle is the steps needed to choose, buy and install a home (Level 2) EV charging station. However, with 80% of EV charging sessions happening at home, choosing to equip your home with an EV charging station is an essential step to maximizing the savings and benefits EVs offer.
The good news is that each year we see more and more governments, municipalities, utilities and businesses offering rebates to help new EV drivers in their territories. That’s why, to provide you with the most comprehensive list of available rebates, we updated our handy guide: Rebates for home EV chargers in Canada!
We also encourage you to find out what rebates are available to you as soon as possible, as some rebates for home EV chargers are given on a first come, first serve basis, while others might have a specific deadline to submit your application. So let’s get started, shall we?
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- Home charging station grants in Alberta
- Home charging station grants in British Columbia
- Home charging station grants in Manitoba
- Home charging station grants in New Brunswick
- Home charging station grants in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Home charging station grants in Nova Scotia
- Home charging station grants in the Northwest Territories
- Home charging station grants in Nunavut
- Home charging station grants in Ontario
- Home charging station grants in Prince Edward Island
- Home charging station grants in Quebec
- Home charging station grants in Saskatchewan
- Home charging station grants in Yukon
Home EV charging station rebates in Alberta
The province of Alberta is bringing more attention to eMobility and its economic opportunities. Below are some meaningful rebate programs to discover, for homeowners and business owners, as well as municipalities.
1) Electric Vehicles for Municipalities Program
Although this is not a program that can support the funding of home EV chargers, it’s a program delivered by the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) that can support your municipality in accelerating its transition to eMobility. The Action Centre helps municipalities across Alberta lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience. Improve your community’s overall energy efficiency and save money for years to come.
Essentially, the Electric Vehicles for Municipalities Program provides up to 300,000 in funding to municipalities to purchase a variety of electric vehicles, install charging stations, and complete feasibility studies.
To learn more, visit the MCCAC website!
Electric Vehicle Charging Program
This electric vehicle charging program helps municipalities install new chargers in public spaces, on-street locations, municipal properties and for municipal vehicle fleets. The total cost of purchase and installation of a new charging station can be rebated, representing savings of:
2) Zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) program. Canada-wide
Albertans can also look to the federal government, which offers significant rebates—up to 5,000—to Canadians who buy or lease eligible zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). The following vehicles are considered to be ZEVs:
There are two types of rebates:
- Electric battery, hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid cars with long range (battery capacity of 15 kWh or more) are eligible for a 5,000 purchase rebate;
- Plug-in hybrids with a shorter range (battery capacity of less than 15 kWh) are eligible for a 5000,500 rebate.
For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s website.
Home EV charging station rebates in British Columbia
The province of British Columbia (B.C.) has made a provincial rebate of up to 8,000 available to help with the up-front cost of an electric vehicle, which can be combined with other federal rebates for a total of more than 8,000 in savings with the purchase of an electric vehicle.
over, as one of Canada’s most prominent provinces in electrifying transportation, the Government of B.C. has increased the rebate you can get for EV chargers. Be sure to check the list of municipalities and cities below that offer additional rebates that can be stacked.
1) BC Hydro: Go Electric rebates for home workplace EV charging
The Government of B.C. has developed a provincial strategy known as the CleanBC plan, and is working with BC Hydro and FortisBC to offer provincial rebates for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
The program offers EV rebates for the following:
- Single-family homes, including duplexes and townhouses, with private garages or dedicated parking.
- A rebate of up to 50% of the purchase and installation costs of an eligible Level 2 EV charger, to a maximum of 350.
- EV Ready rebates: You can apply for these rebates together to streamline the EV-related upgrades to your building, or you could apply for them one at a time as your project progresses.
- A rebate of up to 3,000 for the creation of an EV Ready plan – a professional strategy for your building to make at least one parking space per residential unit EV Ready.
- A rebate of up to 600 per parking space, to a maximum of 80,000 to install the electrical infrastructure in order to implement your EV Ready plan.
- A rebate of up to 450,400 per charger, to a maximum of 14,000, is available to purchase and install Level 2 networked EV chargers at your building, in order to implement your EV Ready plan.
- A rebate of up to 5000,000 per charger to a maximum of 14,000. to purchase and install Level 2 networked EV chargers at your building’s residential parking spaces.
- A rebate of up to 5000,000 per charger is available, to a maximum of 14,000, to purchase and install eligible Level 2 networked EV chargers for employee use.
For this rebate, organizations will need to receive a pre-approval from BC Hydro. Learn more and apply here.
- Single-family homes: A rebate of up to 750
- Apartment and condo buildings: A rebate of up to 4,500 per EV charger
- Workplaces: A rebate of up to 4,000 per EV charger
To be eligible for the program, home EV charging stations (level 2) must be:
- ordered, purchased and installed on or after September 26, 2019.
- Approved for sale and use in Canada and certified cUL, cETL or CSA (such as Bosch’s home charging stations like the EV400 Series, as well as others such as the EVDuty, the FLO Home EV charging stations or Sun Country Highway’s Rugged edition or its EV40D Dual EVSE).
- Equipped with a standard SAE J1772 connector (the only exception to the requirement is the Tesla wall connector)
- New, unused or refurbished
2) FortisBC: Go Electric rebates for home workplace EV charging
To help you get ready for lower carbon transportation options such as electric vehicles (EVs), FortisBC is offering rebates to BC residents for purchasing and installing an EV charging station at home, at multi-unit residential buildings and at workplaces. You must be a residential FortisBC electricity or municipal electricity customer of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland or Nelson Hydro.
The program offers EV rebates for the following properties:
- Single-family detached homes; mobile homes on a permanent foundation; or side-by-side duplexes, row homes or townhouses with individual electricity meters and garages or dedicated parking for the residents of each unit
- A rebate of up to 50% of the purchase and installation costs of an eligible Level 2 EV charger, to a maximum of 350.
- Multi-unit residential buildings and workplaces constructed before August 31, 2020 (i.e. new construction buildings are not eligible).
- A rebate of up to 50% of eligible purchase and installation costs, up to 5000,000 per station, to a maximum of 14,000 per application.
Eligible Level 2 EV charging stations must be:
Home EV charging station rebates in Manitoba
Although there are currently no provincial home EV charging stations rebates in Manitoba, Level 2 chargers are eligible for financing under the Home Energy Efficiency Loan.
1) Home Energy Efficiency Loan. Manitoba Hydro
The Energy Efficient Home Loan offers a convenient and affordable financing option if you want to make energy-efficient improvements to your home. The amount of your monthly payment will be added to your energy bill. No down payment is required.
The maximum amount eligible for financing is 3,000 per EV charger, including installation.
To be eligible for this loan:
- Your EV needs to be new and for residential use only;
- You must be the owner of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle registered in the province of Manitoba;
- You must purchase a new Level 2 charging station for residential use only;
- You must have a nominal voltage rating of 208 and 240 V only;
- Your EV home charger must be installed and connected by a licensed electrician with an electrical permit taken out for the work performed;
- and, the Level 2 EV charger must be third-party certified by ULC, CSA or ETL: such as the Bosch EV400 Series, the FLO Home G5 and X5; EVDuty EVC30 or its Smart-Home version; and the Sun Country Highway single and Dual-Charger.
An authorized Program supplier (contractor or retailer) will work with you to determine if your project is eligible for funding and help you complete the loan application.
For more information, please visit the Manitoba Hydro website.
EV Charging – Home Installation
Charging your EV is just as easy as pumping gas. Where, when and for how long depend on what type of charging equipment you use.
Home Installation
While a Level 1 charger can use a regular 120-volt household electrical outlet with no additional equipment, a Level 2 charger requires the installation of electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Robert Borkowski from Ijamsville, uses solar panels!
“EVs are superior vehicles when comes to acceleration and how they handle on turns. Solar panels on our house generate enough electricity per year to drive our EV 35,000 miles per year. Solar panels combined with EV let us be energy independent.”
Robert Borkowski, Ijamsville, MD
Maryland Electric Vehicles
7201 Corporate DriveHanover, MD 21075
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Using an ad-supported model, Volta lets drivers access enough L2 charging to gain about 35 miles of range, free of charge. (It did offer about 30 minutes of free DC fast charging, but discontinued the service in 2022.)
There are more than 3,000 Volta charge points across 31 states, mostly in shopping malls, stadiums, amusement parks and hospitals in major cities. The company’s acquisition by Shell in 2023 is expected to more than double that number in the near future.
You can download the Volta Charging app to find a station nearest you.
Get in on manufacturer incentives
Many automakers offer free charging packages to attract new customers. Tesla no longer provides unlimited free Supercharging with new models, but it often offers complimentary charging promotions to boost sales, like at the end of a quarter.
PlugShare has a user-generated map of stations across the country, with a setting for free chargers. Just go to the filters and turn off the option for Show Locations That Require Payment.
You’ll also get information on how many minutes you can charge, at what level, the status of the station and more.
Since this info is primarily crowdsourced, you may want to double-check its accuracy.
Where to Find Free EV Charging Stations
Avoiding costly gasoline is one of the biggest perks of driving an electric vehicle. And while many public charging stations charge a fee for powering up your EV, there are numerous free EV charging stations across the United States.
As EVs become more and more common on American roads, free EV charging stations are expected to become more commonplace both near highways and public places like shopping centers. Groups like the EV Charging Initiative are eager to make the growth of free charging stations one of the main motivators to get people to switch to electric vehicles.
Whether you’re planning a road trip around charging locations or exploring low-cost charging options in your area, this article will help explain the types of free EV charging stations you can expect to find.
Public EV Charging Stations: The Basics
Whether your next charging session comes with a small fee, or is cost free, it’s best to know what to expect when you arrive at a public electric car charging spot. As of 2022, all public charging stations currently offered in the United States are either Level 2 EV chargers or Level 3 DC fast chargers. The difference between these two charging ports is outlined below.
Level 2 EV Chargers
Level 2 chargers are the most common equipment used for charging both all- electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Level 2 chargers utilize high voltage AC (alternating current) power — around 240 volts. similar to the amount of power used by large appliances like clothes dryers and dishwashers. Many EV drivers choose to use Level 2 equipment for home charging purposes.
Level 2 chargers can provide approximately 14-35 miles of range for every hour of charging, depending on the battery type. This means they can completely fill a typical EV battery overnight.
Level 2 chargers are commonplace at businesses, supermarkets, parking lots. and other public spaces across the United States.
Level 3/DC Fast Chargers
Level 3 EV chargers. also known as DC fast chargers. use a 480-volt or higher direct current (DC). As of this writing, Level 3 chargers are the most powerful and fastest EV chargers available for use.
The increased power of Level 3 chargers means a faster charge — about 100 miles of charge per hour.
A Level 3 DC fast charging station can cost thousands of dollars to install, so you’ll mostly find them at municipally-run charging stations. Some EV batteries can acquire a full charge with just half an hour of DC charging. Not all EV models can utilize Level 3 chargers.
Where to Find Free Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Finding free EV charging stations can be easy if you do a little sleuthing. Here we’ll outline some common places where you may be able to give your electric vehicle a charge free of any cost.
Car Dealerships
Many automakers offer free EV charging stations either at their dealerships or at affiliate charging networks across the United States. They often offer free charging to those who have purchased an EV from their particular brand. Various Chevrolet. Nissan. and Volkswagen dealerships across the country offer free EV charging to their customers. However, such offers vary from region to region.
National Parks
Between 2016 and 2019, the National Park Service (NPS) installed nearly 100 EV charging installations within national parks across the country in partnership with automaker BMW. Many of these stations are free EV charging stations that are available for complimentary use.
Also, EV automaker Rivian announced a partnership with NPS in 2022 to provide free Waypoint chargers to the public in Yosemite National Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Supermarkets and Shopping Malls
Many supermarkets across the United States have free EV charging stations for shoppers. Major northeastern U.S. supermarket chain Stop Shop had 50 stations from EV charging manufacturer Volta Industries installed at various store locations throughout 2021. Other supermarket retailers like Giant, Safeway, and Vons also offer free EV charging to shoppers.
Volta has also partnered with several shopping malls throughout the U.S. to offer visitors access to free EV charging.
Electrify America
Electrify America is a private EV charging company that, as of this writing, boasts the largest public fast charging network in the United States. As of March 2022. new Hyundai IONIQ Electric and Hyundai KONA Electric owners are eligible for free charging at Electrify America charging stations nationwide.
Are Tesla Supercharger Stations Free?
Contrary to popular belief, the use of Tesla’s Supercharger network —the world’s largest network of Level 3 DC fast chargers — are not free EV charging stations, not even to Tesla drivers. As of this writing, Tesla’s Supercharger network is available to only drivers of Tesla electric vehicles. such as the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model Y, among others. This is because the charging connectors in the Supercharger network are currently only compatible with Tesla vehicles.
Tesla charging may be eligible for free supercharging during limited promotional periods after first purchasing the vehicle.
Tesla owners are charged for each use of the Tesla Supercharger network through an account they set up upon purchase of their vehicle.
Tesla has begun pilot programs in Europe that have opened its charging stations to drivers of non- Tesla electric vehicles made by other automakers. And while it’s believed similar programs will soon open up in the United States, nothing has been formally announced.
In an effort to reduce wait times, the automaker encourages drivers of Tesla vehicles to utilize their Supercharger network on long road trips and not to rely on the network’s Level 3 chargers for everyday use.
Tools to Find Free EV Charging Stations
Whether you’re searching for a free EV charging station or willing to pay a fee, there are several smartphone apps that carefully indicate where charging stations are located nationwide. These apps can be helpful whether you’re visiting a new region for the first time, and if you’re on an extensive road trip. Popular EV charging apps compatible with both iOS and Android phones and tablets include:
- ChargePoint : EV drivers can utilize the ChargePoint app to find charging stations both in and out of the ChargePoint network. Users can pay for charging with a tap of their phone and receive information about their vehicle’s charging status. The app is also functional with ChargePoint ‘s available home charging systems. When used in concert with their ChargePoint home charger. users can align their charge times with optimal electricity rates and archive their EV’s charging history.
- ChargeHub: Also available on web browsers, the ChargeHub app locates all nearby EV charging stations and can also be used to plan trips according to EV charger locations. Over 100,000 users leave Комментарии и мнения владельцев, rate EV charging stations. and upload photos of stations so that other users can have detailed info on each, including rates.
- EVgo : The EVgo app connects EV drivers to the nationwide charging system of the same name. The EVgo network offers drivers access to Level 3 DC fast chargers. While not every EV is compatible with DC fast chargers. they do offer a significantly faster charge. The EVgo network is based on sustainability : Each of its 800 charging stations is powered by renewable energy sources.
- EVHotels: The EVHotels app provides users with the location of lodging facilities with EV charging stations. Since many hoteliers offer free EV charging with stays, it’s great for business travelers and for those on vacation. The company has partnered with over 170 hotel brands across the globe, including lodging facilities that are within walking distance of EV charging stations.
- PlugShare : PlugShare is a free membership app with over 4,200,00 station reviews, making it one of the most popular EV charging apps on the market today. The PlugShare database offers location, price, and charging information on over 200,000 EV charging stations in both the United States and Canada.
Fuel Your EV Knowledge With Compare.com
Whether you’re far away from your home charger or traveling for business or pleasure, there are a variety of free EV charging stations nationwide that EV drivers can take advantage of to “refuel” their car for free.
As the proliferation of electric cars and trucks becomes more prolific on roadways in the United States, retailers, hotels. stadiums, and other businesses are expected to harness free EV charging stations as a way to promote sustainability and draw customers to their location.
Compare.com ’s vast library of reference articles has everything you need to know about driving, maintaining, insuring, and charging electric vehicles. Drivers looking for a pre-owned EV should check out our EV comparison tool to find a reasonably priced EV nearby.
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com’s editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Journalism.